Ex-Wallaby Adam Freier Tries to Solve America's Rugby Problem
Adam Freier, a former Australia hooker with 25 caps including a World Cup campaign, is now CEO of California Legion, a merged team competing in a US men's rugby competition reduced to just six clubs. The ex-Melbourne Rebels player, who retired aged nearly 32 after 12 years in professional rugby, is now tackling the structural challenges of growing the sport in America. He describes the role as being right at the sharp end — exactly where he likes to be.
CEO of a merged team in a US men’s competition shrunk to just six, the ex-Wallaby hooker is still at the sharp end – right where he likes to beOne day in March 2012, Adam Freier sat down to write a column for the Sydney Morning Herald. His Melbourne Rebels were on a losing streak and though he had 25 caps at hooker including a World Cup campaign for Australia, he was nearly 32 and staring at the end of a career at the coalface, 12 years in the front row of the scrum at the highest level. Describing a body breaking down, a struggling club, the agony of endless defeats, he imagined group therapy in front of “strangers in the local hall”.“My name is Adam Freier, and I hate to lose.”California Legion v Anthem RC kicks-off 6pm ET on Saturday, live on ESPN+Martin Pengelly writes about rugby in the US on Substack, at The National Maul Continue reading...